June 8, 2022

Blake Masters Blames Gun Violence on 'Black People, Frankly'

Tech investor and Arizona Republican Senate hopeful Blake Masters acknowledges that the United States has a gun violence problem. But he also has a theory about why there’s a problem—it’s “Black people, frankly.”

Masters boiled the issue down in an April 11 interview on the Jeff Oravits Show podcast, telling the host that “we do have a gun violence problem in this country, and it’s gang violence.”

“It’s people in Chicago, St. Louis shooting each other. Very often, you know, Black people, frankly,” Masters clarified. “And the Democrats don’t want to do anything about that.”...

https://www.thedailybeast.com/blake-masters-blames-gun-violence-on-black-people-frankly

June 8, 2022

Ocasio-Cortez endorses progressive Alessandra Biaggi over Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney

Source: CNN

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Tuesday endorsed state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi’s bid to unseat Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, the leader of the Democratic Party’s House campaign arm, ahead of their primary clash in a newly drawn district north of New York City.

In an fundraising email to supporters, Ocasio-Cortez touted Biaggi as a progressive champion poised for the “competitive and expensive” race ahead.

“She’s running against a well-funded opponent, Sean Patrick Maloney, who also happens to be the chairman of the (Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee),” Ocasio-Cortez wrote. “Alessandra has been here before – she knows what it takes to go up against powerful opponents and win.”

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/07/politics/aoc-endorse-alessandra-biaggi-sean-patrick-maloney/index.html

June 7, 2022

Are cracks showing in the West's support for Ukraine?

More than 100 days after Russia invaded Ukraine, the anti-Moscow alliance may be confronting the limits of its unity.

French President Emmanuel Macron became the latest to draw fire for his suggestion that it would be unwise to “humiliate” Russian President Vladimir Putin with a resounding defeat, a prospect few expected to be grappling with when the Kremlin launched its war and inspired a terrifying clarity among the United States and its allies.

But — thanks in part to the success of its effort to rally behind Kyiv — the West is showing signs of growing divisions...

On one side are France, Germany and Italy, who now appear to favor calling for negotiations and cease-fires rather than unconditional military support of Ukraine. They have either been accused of hesitancy over sending weapons or worrying too much about what might happen if Russia loses...

On the other side are the Eastern Europeans, some of them ex-Soviet states, who along with the United Kingdom are ironclad in their at-all-costs approach to Ukrainian solidarity. Critics say this risks entrenching a forever war in Europe — and an escalation with nuclear-armed Moscow...

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/humiliate-russia-west-divisions-ukraine-support-putin-rcna31218

June 7, 2022

Expectation management for the Jan 6 hearings

Expectations are sky high for a lot of folks. Perhaps a bit too high.

We could see some solid work and information and some still feel a bit deflated. I'm not expecting any kind of smoking gun or next level evidence that is well beyond other pieces to the puzzle we have seen. If we get it, fantastic. If not, the wheels still keep turning.

June 7, 2022

44% of Republicans believe mass shootings "something we have to accept as part of a free society"

...One of the questions in the poll asked respondents if they feel that mass shootings are "unfortunately something we have to accept as part of a free society" or "something we can prevent and stop if we really tried."

In response, 44% of Republicans said mass shootings are inevitable "as part of a free society." Meanwhile, 85% of Democrats and 73% of Independents said mass shootings are preventable "if we really tried."...

https://www.insider.com/poll-4-in-10-gop-accept-mass-shootings-free-society-2022-6

June 7, 2022

Stamp honoring Nancy Reagan unveiled at White House

Source: The Hill

Jill Biden is putting her stamp on bridging the partisan divide, helping to unveil a new postage stamp that honors former first lady Nancy Reagan.

The first lady was on hand Monday at the White House to give the first glimpse at the U.S. Postal Service stamp featuring the image of former President Reagan’s wife.

“Nancy Reagan served the American people with grace. She understood that the role of first lady came with inherent pitfalls and scrutiny,” Biden said...

Read more: https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/3513142-stamp-honoring-nancy-reagan-unveiled-at-white-house/

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A bridge too far for me.

June 6, 2022

Buttigieg: "Price of gasoline is not set by a dial in the Oval Office"

Soaring gas prices across the country are out of the White House's hands, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said on ABC's "This Week" Sunday as he rebuked oil company executives for not upping production.

Driving the news: Gas prices have continued surging and look headed for $5 a gallon nationwide, writes Axios' Matt Phillips.

The big picture: "I don't think it's correct to say it hasn't made any difference at all," Buttigieg said about Biden's decision earlier this year to release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve...

https://www.axios.com/2022/06/05/buttigieg-gas-price-oil-companies

June 6, 2022

Schiff: DOJ not prosecuting Meadows or Scavino is "deeply troubling" and "grave disappointment"

MARGARET BRENNAN: You wear a lot of hats, but I want to ask you about the January 6 committee that you serve on. The Justice Department, as you know, on Friday decided not to prosecute the former chief of staff, Mark Meadows, or social media director, Dan Scavino, for refusing to cooperate with your committee. We know the committee said that was puzzling. Is it your understanding that- that these men are immune from all prosecution?

REP. SCHIFF: No, they're not. And it is very puzzling why these two witnesses would be treated differently than the two that the Justice Department is prosecuting. There is no absolute immunity. These witnesses have very relevant testimony to offer in terms of what went into the violence of January 6, the propagation of the big lie, and the idea that witnesses could simply fail to show up. And when the statute requires the Justice Department to present those cases to the grand jury, they don't, is deeply troubling. We hope to get more insight from the Justice Department, but it's a- I think, a grave disappointment, and could impede our work if other witnesses think they can, likewise, refuse to show up with impunity.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Is it because these two men had such close proximity to President Trump? Is the executive privilege argument actually applying here?

REP. SCHIFF: That- that shouldn't be the explanation here because of course there are great many things these witnesses can testify with no even plausible claim of executive privilege. They were both involved in campaign matters. They both have documents that they could offer. None of this is protected by privilege and the idea that you can simply refuse to show up rather than show up and say as to this question, I'm going to exert a privilege, that just invites others to be in contempt of Congress or be in contempt of judges around the country, in other courtrooms, and I think it's a very dangerous precedent to set.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/adam-schiff-face-the-nation-transcript-06-05-2022/

June 5, 2022

Trump Endorses Kevin McCarthy, Pisses Off His Own Supporters

Despite Donald Trump's own followers booing and calling Republican House leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) a “RINO,” the ex-president sent out a statement late Saturday night endorsing McCarthy in his quest for 2022 re-election. “Congressman Kevin McCarthy is an outstanding Representative,” Trump wrote, calling the GOP House leader “strong” and “fearless.” However, after posting the endorsement to his Truth Social platform, Trump's followers expressed disappointment in the comment section...

https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-endorses-kevin-mccarthy-despite-trumpworld-hating-him?ref=home

June 5, 2022

Progressives slam HHS decision to keep higher 2022 Medicare premium

Progressives are criticizing the Biden administration’s recent announcement that the 2022 Medicare premium will not be cut despite lower-than-expected costs for a new Alzheimer’s medicine.

The cost of a premium jumped by $21.60 to a minimum of $170.10 and a maximum of $578.30 in 2022, the largest increase in the program’s history. Premiums are based in part on income and tax-filing status...

Alex Lawson, executive director for the progressive group Social Security Works, slammed the administration’s decision to not lower premiums until next year, calling it “bogus.”

Faiz Shakir, an adviser to Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), called on the Biden administration to send out rebate checks to Medicare recipients this year, while fellow Sanders staffer Warren Gunnels tweeted: “Imagine being able to put more money in the pockets of senior citizens who are struggling to put food on the table right now and doing nothing instead. This is how you blow a slam dunk.”...

https://news.yahoo.com/progressives-slam-hhs-decision-keep-100000675.html


Biggest problem? This new Alzheimer’s medicine had an annual cost of $56,000, before the company halved this price. How generous, Big Pharma!